Quotes of the Week

"These are tight times. I'd rather spend money on services than litigation." — State Sen.Lydia Jackson, D-Shreveport, remarking on the scuttling of House Bill 277, which would have allowed erecting a Ten Commandments monument on the Capitol grounds in Baton Rouge. On June 15, the state Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 5-2 to defer the bill, largely over fear of litigation. Similar religious displays on public property in other states have led to expensive — and losing — court battles paid for by taxpayers.

"What the governor has done with this veto is repudiate his life's work." — Rep.Harold Ritchie, D-Bogalusa, commenting on Gov.Bobby Jindal's veto of the renewal of a 4-cents-a-pack tax on cigarettes. Earlier in the week, the Baton Rouge Advocate unearthed a 1997 paper written by Jindal when he led the state's Department of Health and Hospitals. In the position paper, Jindal suggested higher taxes might be the solution to the public health problems caused by tobacco use.

"I'm not coming back. It's hard to work here when it has become theater." — Rep.Juan LaFonta, D-New Orleans, in his farewell address to the House on June 16. In November 2010, LaFonta announced he would not run for re-election, but would return to practicing law full time.